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The biggest fall movies of 2013

By Rafer Guzmán

Newsday

Truth may be stranger than fiction, and it seems almost as popular during this year’s fall movie season. Between now and the end of December, we’ll see roughly a dozen major movies based on true stories that cover subjects as diverse as slavery, the AIDS epidemic, Formula One racing, Somali piracy, art theft and the making of Walt Disney’s “Mary Poppins.”

Here are this fall’s 40 biggest movies — and that’s the truth.

Friday:

PRISONERS — When his daughter vanishes, a father (Hugh Jackman) takes matters into his own hands. With Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano.

Sept. 27:

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 — A sequel to the 2009 animated film, this time with mutant food creatures such as “shrimpanzees.” Bill Hader and Anna Faris provide voices.

ESCAPE PLAN — An engineer (Sylvester Stallone) is wrongfully convicted and sent to the very prison he designed. With Arnold Schwarzenegger and 50 Cent.

THE FIFTH ESTATE — The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, is played by Benedict Cumberbatch (“Star Trek Into Darkness”). Directed by Bill Condon (the final “Twilight” films).

12 YEARS A SLAVE — The story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841. Directed by Steve McQueen (“Hunger”) from Northup’s autobiography.

Oct. 25:

THE COUNSELOR — Michael Fassbender plays a lawyer caught up in a drug deal gone wrong. Directed by Ridley Scott (“Blade Runner”) from an original screenplay by Cormac McCarthy (“The Road”). With Penélope Cruz and Brad Pitt.

ENDER’S GAME — In the future, a gifted young boy (Asa Butterfield) trains for a momentous battle against alien invaders. With Hailee Steinfeld and Harrison Ford. Based on Orson Scott Card’s 1985 novel.

LAST VEGAS — Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline play aging friends cutting loose during a bachelor party.

Nov. 8:

THOR: THE DARK WORLD — Chris Hemsworth returns as the hammer-wielding god of thunder. With Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston.

Nov. 15:

THE BOOK THIEF — A drama based on Markus Zusak’s novel about a young girl (Sophie Nélisse) living with foster parents during World War II.